Maturational Effects of the Vestibular System: A Study of Rotary Chair, Computerized Dynamic Posturography, and Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials with Children

Abstract

Maturational effects were investigated in two age groups (N = 30 per group) of children with normal hearing sensitivity, using rotary chair (RC), computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) measures. Children recruited within the younger group were three through six years of age, and children within the older group were nine through eleven years of age. Data obtained for each pediatric group were compared with clinic and/or published adult normative data for each measure. Significant age effects were seen on many CDP subtests (sensory organization test and motor control test); VEMP latencies; and RC gain, phase, and step velocity measures. The results of this study demonstrate significant maturational effects from preschool age through adulthood and suggest that adult normative data may not be appropriate when interpreting pediatric test results. Since adult techniques should oftentimes not be utilized, a proposed test battery is described that may be efficiently utilized with pediatric patients.

The effect of saccular function on static balance ability of profound hearing-impaired children

“…Several studies have thus far been conducted on adults using electronystagmography (ENG) and caloric tests; these tests are, however, too difficult to use for children and are not routinely conducted in clinical practice [5,8,9]. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) and acoustically evoked short latency negative response (ASNR) are two new easy-to-use tests which, in recent studies, have been utilized to assess the vestibular function in children.…”

Assessment of Saccular Function in Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…There are a variety of reasons why vestibular evaluation is not routinely performed in the pediatric population. 1,[5][6][7] One of those is the lack of feasible and effective procedure(s) for clinical use. The standard procedures for vestibular evaluation in adults, such as electronystagmography (ENG) and caloric test, are challenging, if not impossible, when attempted in young children.…”

“…Efforts to create childfriendly vestibular evaluation procedures have yielded important progress. 3,[7][8][9] One of these procedures is vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing. The VEMP test measures a vestibulo-spinal reflex mediated through the saccule and the inferior vestibular nerve, in which a loud auditory stimulus induces an ipsilateral inhibition of the tonic neck muscle activity recorded on electromyography (EMG).…”

Clinical practice of horizontal video head impulse test in healthy children

“…[11] The rotary chair can also be intolerable due to its nature concerning spinning in a small, dark and closed area. [12] On the contrary, vHIT has some advantages that can make it easy to perform in children. These advantages are the applicability of the test in an open and lighted room without provoking dizziness and being less frightening for children.…”